British GrandPrix Preview

This weekend sees Formula One head to Silverstone for the British GrandPrix, round 9 of this record breaking season. The British GrandPrix always attracts a massive crowd and this weekend will be no exception despite the fact that the race is on the same day as the Wimbledon Men's final. On Sunday the race build up will be on BBC 1 before moving to BBC 2 for the race.

This week has been an shocking week in Formula One with the news yesterday that Marussia F1's test driver Maria De Villota lost her right eye following her horrific crash on Tuesday and everyone's thoughts are with Maria and her family at this time.

This weekend there is potential for a wet race which could result in an interesting outcome, last year's race winner Fernando Alonso will be hoping for a repeat victory this weekend. Last year's win was Ferrari's only win of the 2011 season however this season Ferrari have two win's to their name as Fernando became this season's first repeat winner when he took a surprise victory in front of his home crowd in Valencia two week's ago following Sebastian Vettel's retirement from the race.

Of course Ferrari and RedBull aren't the only team's in contention for the race win this weekend We also have to factor in McLaren and Lotus who are currently ahead of Ferrari in the Constructors championship in third place despite Ferrari having two win's so far this season as the Enstone based team have been the major surprise this season.

The team are promoting the new Batman film 'The Dark Knight Rises' this weekend with the film logo appears on the car's and both Kimi and Romain's helmets and overalls. I am certainly hoping that the ICEMAN Rises to the top step of the podium this weekend. That may sound cheesey however it is a real possibility if the team can have a great qualifying performance as they have shown that they have the race pace to challenge at the front.

Both Kimi and Romain have been extremely competitive as Romain was competing for victory in Valencia two week's ago until he retired from the race. That promoted Kimi to second. So far this season Lotus have collected five podium's in 8 race's so it is only a matter of time before they get their breakthrough win.

We should also look out for Jenson Button who is hoping to get his championship back on track as he has struggled with his McLaren recently so hopefully he will be up there challenging for victory too.

Mercedes and Michael Schumacher will also be looking to build on their strong performance in Valencia where Michael picked up his first podium since his F1 comeback in 2010. 

But with the way this season has shaped up so far ANYTHING is possible. Some people have said that the unpredictability of the sport this year has made it boring however I firmly believe that this is completely wrong. No team has dominated so far this season so we will have to see what happens come Sunday. 

The race is live on BBC and Sky F1 as they go head to head at the British GrandPrix for the first time. So it is going to be extremely interesting to how that goes. I will of course be sticking with the Beeb this weekend.

The big question on everyone's lips is will we get our eighth different winner of the season? We will have to wait and see. 

FIA need to step up cockpit safety

The FIA really need to step up their efforts to enhance Formula One cockpit safety as soon as possible following the terrible news that Marussia F1 test driver Mara De Villota's racing career appears to be over as news broke today that the Spaniard has lost her right eye following her horrific crash during a straight line speed and aero test at Duxford airfield yesterday.

As the investigation into the cause of the crash continues the main question that I would to address is what are the FIA going to do to further improve the safety of F1 cockpits. Since 2009 there have a number of terrible accident's within open wheel racing.

The first one being at the Hungarian GrandPrix when a spring flew off the back of Rubens Barrichello's Brawn car hitting Ferrari's Felipe Massa in the head at speed resulting in a skull fracture for the Ferrari driver. Felipe has since made a full recovery.

The week before Felipe Massa's crash Henry Surtees, the son of former F1 champion John Surtees was killed when he was struck in the head by a tyre from another car during a F2 race in Brands Hatch.

Then last year we had the tragic events at the final IndyCar race in Las Vegas where Dan Wheldon was  killed following a high speed crash. So these kinds of accidents aren't just restricted to Formula One.

The FIA have introduced for this year stepped noses for F1 cars to help protect drivers in the event of side impacts, they have also raised the height of the cockpit walls however as Tuesday's event's have shown in my opinion this hasn't been taken far enough. Exactly two month's prior to this accident in the May 3rd issue of Autosport there was a feature done on cockpit safety.

One of the idea's being suggested is the idea of drivers being covered with a fighter jet-style canopy to protect them from potential debris. However I believe that this could potentially cause problem's if a driver is sent airborne during a crash and lands upside down.

For example, during the 2010 European GrandPrix in Valencia RedBull's Mark Webber was coming up to lap the lotus of Heikki Kovalainen when he went over the back of the car and was launched into the air luckily for Mark he landed upright and was able to walk away unhurt.

In Maria's case however she apparently unconscious in the car following the accident for between 15 and 20 minute's and it took paramedics a considerable amount of time to extricate her from the car.

I am hoping number one that Maria makes a good recovery from her injuries and secondly I really hope the FIA learn something and bring forward their plan to further improve cockpit safety.

The reason the cockpit is open on an F1 car and indeed any other open wheel race caar is to allow easy access to the driver in the event of a crash.

De Villota loses right eye following crash

Marussia F1's test driver Maria De Villota has lost her right eye following her testing crash in Cambridge yesterday the team confirmed in a statement today. The Spanish driver remains in a critical but stable condition in hospital following the accident.

She underwent lengthly surgery yesterday that went into the early hours of this morning.

Anti stall possible cause of De Villota's crash

It has been reported today that the possible cause of Marussia test driver Maria De Villota's crash yesterday was because as she entered the make shift pit-lane the car went into anti stall and propelled the car into the Marussia F1 team truck.

This is only speculation as no fact's about the crash have been released to the media. it was said last night Maria was conscious and undergoing treatment and tests however no further update on her condition has been given today.

The team are conducting an investigation into the cause of the crash.

De Villota injured in testing crash

Marussia F1 test driver Maria De Villota has been injured in a crash while conducting a straight line speed test for the team at the Duxford Airfield in Cambridgesgire. Maria had just completed an installation lap and was returning to the pit's when she reportedly lost control of the car. as she lost control eye witnesses said that the car accelerated before hitting a lorry at the side of the track.

Maria had to be helped from the car by ambulance crews who were at the circuit. She was airlifted to hospital in a serious condition... More news as I get it

UPDATE at 2.50PM:

According to reports Maria De Villota has received face and head injuries however she is in a stable condition in hospital.

Th driver hit the team's support truck that had delivered her car to the straight line test. She returned to the pit's following an installation lap. I have heard a very dramatic recording of the accident and the car appeared to misfire and as she slowed the car it appeared to accelerate and flew foward before hitting the support truck.

The mechanics at the scene have to be praised for their extremely quick reactions calling for the ambulance straight away. Marussia F1 will release a further statement later today.

FURTHER UPDATE AT 3.33PM


A team statement just released confirms that Maria De Villota is conscious and undergoing further medical checks.

FIA caution Vettel over outbursts

Germany's Kolner Express newspaper is reporting today that Sebastian Vettel has been warned to watch his manners. The report comes following Vettel's accusation that the FIA had conspired against RedBull when the safety Car was deployed in Valencia last weekend as a result Vettel claimed to the media that his retirement was caused by the safety car.

It's not the first time this season that Vettel has been warned by Formula One's governing body as following the Chinese GrandPrix he called HRT's Narain Kartikeyan an "idiot and a cucumber'

In my opinion Formula One should have a probation system like the one's that are in place in NASCAR and IndyCar. It would be a very easy thing to do. If a driver makes comment's like Vettel did last weekend they should as he was be warned of their conduct and they should have a three atrike's rule.

How I believe it should work is that if a driver is found to have made comments to the media like Vettel did about the FIA's safety car they should be given an official warning, as in my opinion that amounts to brining the sport into disrepute, it happens a second time they should be given another warning and then if it happens a third time they should be fined and placed on probation and if the driver persists the driver should receive a race ban. That's just what I think should happen but I think it is certainly something the FIA should consider as it would make driver's think about what they say before they speak to the media.

Team's have PR representatives with their driver's after race's for a reason.

Vettel wants Webber to stay at RedBull in 2013

Reigning Formula One World Championship Sebastian Vettel has revealed that he wants RedBull Racing to extend Mark Webber's contract. The Australian is out of contract at the end of the season and     although Vettel has said that he and Mark are not friends he would like to see the team retain the Australian for at least another year. However he admits that any decision on his team mate for next year lies with Christian Horner and the team and not him.

His comments come as the Formula One circus heads to Silverstone for next weekend's British GrandPrix where last year he had a very clear lead to Mark Webber in the Championship when he and Mark were challenging for second place behind Fernando Alonso when Mark's engineer came over the radio to tell him 'Mark maintain the gap this allowed Vettel to finish second in the race and Webber third.

Fast forward twelve months and heading into this year's British GrandPrix it is Mark who has the advantage over Vettel the Aussie is in second place on 91 points while Vettel is in 4th place on 85 points. So we shall see what happens at next weekend's GrandPrix.

I believe that the reason Vettel wants Mark to stay at RedBull is because he see's him a massive threat were he to move to another team for 2013, as it has been suggested recently that Mark could move to Ferrari to replace Felipe Massa, but as he said himself that he is one of a number of driver's who has been linked to a Ferrari drive for 2013.

Mark has also stated any decision on his plans for 2013 will depend on his results this season. I believe  it is far too early in the year to be talking about driver's for 2013 as we are only heading in to round nine of a twenty race season. Mark has a very good relationship with the team and I don't see any reason at the moment at least for him to be discussing his future in the sport as he is doing a great job for the team in this wide open 2012 F1 season.

The conclusion that I have come is why would Vettel want a new team mate coming into his team and establishing themselves in the team. For the moment at least Mark has the upper hand on Vettel in the championship so if it continues which I hope it does Vettel's view may change. I for one would love to see Mark beat Vettel this year, however, I REALLY want Kimi Raikkonen and Lotus to finish ahead of the RedBull team this year. I have a strong suspicion that Kimi and Lotus will be challenging for the win next weekend.